Settled in the Maritimes of Canada, surrounded by the forest, I live a simple life of gratitude with my soul mate and fur family. This blog is a journal of my art, food, garden, my life and my thoughts. Thanks for reading!

Thursday, January 23, 2020

Thursday Art Date: Chinese New Year; and Paint Party Friday!

Hello Friends! 😊😊😊

Welcome to Thursday's Art Date, today our theme is Chinese New Year. Tweety Bird is like me, he loves to celebrate every occasion! I admit folks, I stumped myself again with this week's theme. Since 2020 is the Year of the Rat, I went with a rat theme!

This is my charcoal drawing of old movie tough guy James Cagney...what does this have to do with this week's theme? Some of you may have guessed already!

James Cagney is famous for the line "You Dirty Rat!!"...but...in fact, for movie buffs out there, James Cagney never actually uttered those words. In the 1932 film "Taxi" he came close to saying that, but he actually said "Come out and take it you dirty yellow-bellied rat!" Adding "yellow-bellied" makes it more of an insulting threat doesn't it? 😁 Here's the one minute clip! I had such a crush on this actor...he can sing, dance and act and in real life he was a farmer. What's not to like??? 😊

Rhino News: We finished the head, ears and chin! Looks like it may be two more lessons before we finish this wrinkly fella!

Our weather is still too frigid for words...this photo tells the story...look at my frozen hair!! Looks like spaghetti lol!

On that chilly note, that's all for now folks! But please check out the link widget below to see more Chinese New Year artwork! And please join me on Sunday for my food and pets post. 🐾🐾🐾

On a personal note, I wanted to let you all know that the next few months will be jam-packed for me. I am taking even more art classes, I'm working on a project for a home business, and in a few weeks the house hunting begins! We'll be traveling from here in Quebec to visit homes in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. And if all goes well, we'll be moving in May. I may not post every Sunday but I will definitely be keeping up with the art date on Thursdays. I am so happy that so many people are joining in! It's very motivating and so much fun to see your art, so thank you!!! 💕

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The glowing sun, setting over Summerside Harbour in 2008 - I called this photo The Maestro because of the way the tree's branches were "conducting" the sunset!

January 30th: Next Thursday's theme is Glow. Click on the link for ideas and inspiration! Remember it's all about creating. You can showcase your paintings, drawings, photography, sculpting, baking, poetry...whatever you like! 🎨

⚡⚡⚡⚡ Be forewarned ⚡⚡⚡⚡ If you include a link that doesn't follow the art date theme, it will be removed! Thanks for your understanding and for respecting my fellow artists who put their minds, hearts and souls into creating art for the themes!

85 comments:

Your charcoal rat looks so realistic, well done Rain! It's funny when you say you stumped yourself! It's great that you come up with random themes, I tend to think and overthink before committing to things, love your creativity. Good luck with the house plans.

Hello Rain, Tweety Bird celebrates the new year, that is once again so sweet, well drawn. I like the rat as well.great that video what a man and really a farmer *gg*Your rhinoceros is getting more and more, I live as you paint it. a real art workthat's really cold for you, how you look when walking the dog.The Maestro picture is fantasticGood luck with art classes and watching houses !!! A lot to do and I'm happy that you will continue on Thursday Thank you, Rain!have good Day! Hugs Elke

Aaaaaaaaaaah, glow sounds easier to manage that rats! Love your charcoal rat and the rhino is wonderful. Fun photo of you with frozen hair, I've never experienced that here! You have a lot on your plate just now, so good luck with all the projects you have planned. Have fun, hugs to you and your furry friends, Valerie

your charcoal art is being more and more magnificent day by day ,i enlarged the rhino and found it absolutely impressive :))) well done !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

you also draw the actor so so well ,amazingly indeed ,yes what not to like about him ,i loved simplicity of those olden days when actors were big deal yet they were so real and close to genuine lifestyle

oh i was so lost into your beautiful eyes which look splendid in close up :)so i could not notice frozen hair until i read the line below haha yes they look unreal due to cold oh my God !

How cute, Tweety with sparklers! Your James Cagney charcoal sketch is fabulous! WOW, I'm impressed! But, then why wouldn't I be? You're super talented. :) Oh my goodness, yes, I see your hair IS frozen! You'll not catch me out in that weather. Heck, you won't catch me living in a place that gets that cold if I can ever help it. You look cute with your hoodie and beanie. Hey, no sweat on being busy. Life takes precedent and best of luck on the house search. We're still doing it but we're so picky. We know what we want and what we don't want. Why spend lots of money if you aren't going to be happy? Gorgeous sunset! Thanks for hosting the artsy fun, my friend. Stay indoors and keep warm! ;)

You have a busy time ahead. Go for it! Your art is amazing. I actually began a sketch at my client's on Tuesday. You folks inspire!We have an easier week this week, with temperatures. We shall see!Good luck. We moved so many times, since our marriage in 2002, we're happy here, for now.

I'm a big Cagney fan too! And he is instantly recognizable in your excellent portrait of him. But my favourite part of your art today are those highlights in the rat's eyes -- magnificently done! They leap off the page with life!

Good luck on your house hunting and I hope you find your home sweet home quickly. As you know, there is anxiety but when you find and acquire the that one perfect house for you and Alex, there is such joy.

HI Rain. Your charcoal art is just stunning. That rat WOW! Great art. Yes it sounds like a busy time for you. Good luck on the house hunting. I have enjoyed being part of TAD and am glad you will keep up with that. Stay warm up there and have a great day.

Your charcoal renderings are wonderful, Rain, and it’s clear to see and read how much you are enjoying the online art class! You certainly have a lot of good things happening in this new year and we will look forward to reading more when you have time to share. Blogging is fun, but life events always take precedence.🙂

Beautiful picture of the sunset. I love looking at your pictures. I would join in on the are showcase on Thursdays and even show my artwork on my blog but I don't have a scanner to upload anything to my laptop. I don't know what David did with the one we had. It disappeared years ago and he even said he doesn't know what happened to it. So when we get some extra cash we will look into buying one. Other than that you are really very good with your artwork.

As an appreciator rather than a creator I am completely awed by your art.I believe charcoal is a difficult medium but you are well on the way to mastering it.Look after yourself in the busy times ahead. Please.

Okay, Rain... I am no fan of rats, but yours is amazing!!! And your James Cagney is good too. You know... reading some of the comments above, I went back and looked at your Rat again. The eyes really are terrific. They are so life-like.

Hi Rain what a fun filled visit again you always give so much in your posts. You rat is adorable, never thought i'd say that haa haa! I always think of James Cagney saying that, I can not recall anything other! I used to always embrace each celebration working with children it was so important to give them a diverse look at other cultures and religions but I mentioned to Valerie earlier that this year I have not created anything for Chinese New Year. It's been a frustrating start to the year. It sounds like you have some very busy months coming up, good luck with the house hunting and enjoy those art classes. I do hope I get chance to come and play very soon. Sending warm creative hugs your way Tracey xx

Oh my gosh! You are such an artist! I love the rat! I sure your enjoyed your comment on my last post. Thank you. I can't imagine your cat swallowing rubber bands. I am way far behind in reading posts and commenting on blogs that I love. You do have a lot going on! Take care.

I absolutely adore your rat drawing Rain! Fantastic looking Cagney too. Hubby and I recently saw one of his original costumes he wore in Yankee Doodle Dandy and it was so cool- he was also a very small man.You poor girl your frozen hair alone gives me the shivers- but you still look beautiful. The sunset photo is just breathtaking- wow!!You certainly will be quite busy yet it also sounds very exciting. Best of luck with it all. Happy PPF!

More art classes....YAY! You know that I love that. I am so happy for you. Also, really happy that you have stated to look for a new home already. Now will you be looking for a home that is off away from folks or closer in to town? WOW...on the hair! That is more cold then THIS OLD BODY can take! I have asthma also and when it is that cold it makes it way to my lungs that don't feel good when it does. ...keep us posted on the house deal.

I love your tweety and your charcoal pieces are wonderful! Thank you for visiting my blog. Don't worry - I was quite scared and intimidated to join the art group. I may end up just sitting there watching everyone instead of painting:):)

Do you know how beautiful you are, Rain? That photo of you is gorgeous, right down to the frozen spaghetti hair ~ LOL, I know that frozen hair feeling. Your charcoal portraits of two "rats" are awesome!

Loving your artwork as usual! And it sounds like a very busy but also very exciting time for you. Wishing you an abundance of good fortune on your house hunting!!! And so looking forward to hearing more about it.

Thanks Cathy :) I'd love to be more picky with the house hunting, but this year we HAVE to buy. Renting is draining us financially and we can't get ahead ever. The rents and utility bills are too high around here. I'm glad you liked James Cagney! I really enjoyed drawing him! :) I kept thinking "you dirty rat!" over and over as I sketched him.

Thanks Jenn (Jilks) :) I hope you stay where you are, it's such a lovely spot, I'm so envious of your wildlife! I don't know that the next move will be the last, but it'll be a step up from renting here! I'm glad we inspired you to sketch!!

Thanks Arleen :) I'm already having house hunting anxiety and I'm sure it won't really go away until we close the deal...but then moving anxiety will kick in lol...I'm trying to tell myself it's "excitement" not anxiety!!

Thanks Nicole :) I'm really happy you're enjoying the art date! I'll NEVER stop that because it brings me such joy! I just have to find more balance and make more time for it personally! I'm so glad you liked the rat!! :)

Thanks Dorothy :) I don't ever want to give up blogging! I'm just going to be a little slow at answering comments and visiting! I just love the connection with everyone. You're all so nice! :) And yes, I'm really enjoying the art classes! I want to spend all of my time doing them, but I need to be realistic! :)

Thanks Leanna :) I don't scan my stuff to show on my blog, I take photos. The scanner I have is too small even for a regular sheet of watercolour paper and I don't have the patience to fix it all up in photoshop, so I take a photo. Sometimes the lighting isn't as good as it could be but it's easy! :)

Thanks Tracey :) Ha ha...I know, I don't equate rats with adorable either hee hee. I am so busy, I kind of wish I had a slow start to the year! But I decided to go for it with the art classes even though I knew the house hunting was on the horizon! I think the biggest part of my life that I'm not paying much attention to is the housework, which I'm okay with lol! :)

Thanks Henny :) I'm far behind on blogs too this week!!! But I'm slowly catching up! Oh the rubber bands, that was crazy. Sometimes I think our pets will just eat anything, no matter what it tastes like lol!

Thanks Linda :) I'm glad you like my rat!! I remember your post about the costumes!!! And I think I even commented about Cagney on that post!! The hair frozen, oh gosh, you will see a photo I post next time with my frozen eyelashes lol!

Thanks Pam :) And thanks for letting me know about my profile! I fixed it! :) Well, the dream home is far away from everyone, but I've been having a tough time finding it on our budget. We may have to buy an in-between home that's not too expensive and somewhat far from people. We don't want to be in a village though. The cold is unbearable lately!

Thanks so much Martha :) :) I've been talking to the Universe about my dream home and thinking about it every day, so I really hope it manifests itself this year! Last year was brutal...it took me months to get over that! I'll be keeping you posted for sure!!

Thanks so much Laurie :)) I missed your comment earlier!! I'm really hoping that the house hunting will go well. It's so nerve-wracking but I just feel like this will be the year we find somewhere nice!! :)